He savagely applied the painstik and Jean-Luc’s body went rigid before contorting grotesquely. Curls of smoke drifted up and around his head and he started to shake violently as blood dribbled from his eyes and ears. Madred stopped the assault but the convulsions continued. Jean-Luc’s bowel and bladder emptied before he slowly slipped into a boneless unconsciousness. “Revive him! That was all your doing Doctor. One simple answer from you and we could have avoided that…display.” Beverly swallowed painfully and tried to free her swollen tongue. She mumbled and Madred had to lean in to hear her. “I hate you Madred.” “Of that I have no doubt, but it’s rather beside the point, isn’t it? For now you are mine to do with as I wish…and what I wish is that you answer my questions. Now, unless you want me to insert this into his body…or yours…you will tell me what I want to know.” All effort to talk depleted, the only thing Beverly could do was shake her head. “Very well Doctor. We wait until he regains consciousness then we will begin again.”
“Commander Riker…we’ll be exiting the expanse in three minutes.” “Thank you Con. Data what have your analyses come up with?” “There are several class M planets along the flight path Sir, but I think we can rule out some on the basis that they would not allow Orions to enter their space.” “Agreed. Their reputation is enough to put a lot of people off. Ok, discounting those planets, how many does that leave?” “Four Sir.” “Good. Begin…” “Commander sensors are picking up the residue of a very large explosion in this sector.” “An explosion? Where?” “Five parsecs Sir.” “Any clue as to the source?” “No Sir, but it was not of natural origins.” Will sat in the Command chair and crossed his long legs. “Well we’d better investigate it. Helm, set a course and engage at full impulse.” “Aye Sir.” Within half an hour they arrived at the blast site. Sensors were used to scan the debris, the conclusions fed to the computer at the science station. “Well Data?” “It is hard to say Sir. The components have been reduced to microscopic proportions, but I would hazard a guess that it was once a ship.” “Hazard a guess?” “A gut feeling Sir.” “Based on what?”
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